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Schools told to stop teaching children to write by hand

July 12 2011, 1:01am, The Times

Critics say that handwriting skills are not needed in the digital ageGetty Images/Flickr RF

Young schoolchildren have battled for generations to master the art of handwriting, but now the written word is going the way of the quill as American schools are told to focus instead on the “three Ts”: texting, tapping and typing on keyboards.

Officials in Indiana have said that, instead of learning longhand, pupils will be expected to become proficient in keyboarding. The Midwestern state is at the vanguard of a broader trend. A curriculum adopted so far by 41 states does not call for pupils to be taught to write, though schools may choose to do so if they wish.

Those who support the move argue that writing is of limited use in the digital age. “Being able to type efficiently is a vital skill…